pull myself together

USAGE SUMMARY

'pull myself together' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you need to regain your composure and focus after a difficult or upsetting situation. For example, "I took a few moments to take a few deep breaths and pull myself together before continuing the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

HuffPost

Lifestyle

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I somehow manage to pull myself together.

The New York Times

I had to pull myself together and find clothes that weren't covered in jam.

Independent

It took my breath away, and I leaned over to pull myself together.

The New Yorker

I tried to pull myself together and come up with a trenchant answer.

The New York Times

I was an idiot to think that they were just giving me some time off to pull myself together.

The New Yorker

If Dad was here, he would say that this is grief talking and to pull myself together.

The Guardian

Perhaps I was expected to pull myself together – but then I fretted he would think me cold and indifferent.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I realised that if I didn't pull myself together I was going to end up dead as well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fortunately, pre-production on my next short starts this week so I'm going to have to pull myself together for that.

The Guardian - Film

Freedom means finding a semiprivate piece of concrete outside, between a parked police car and a mobile lunch truck, to try to pull myself together.

The New York Times

I pull myself together in a ruffled cotton gauze caftan, a Karen Karch necklace with vintage charms and Alberta Ferretti nude wedges.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pull myself together" to convey a sense of regaining control after experiencing a shock, emotional distress, or a moment of disarray. It suggests a conscious effort to stabilize oneself.

Common error

While versatile, avoid overusing "pull myself together" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "recover my composure" or "reestablish my equilibrium" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pull myself together" functions as a reflexive idiom, indicating an action directed back at the subject. As evidenced by Ludwig, it expresses the act of regaining control over one's emotions or state of mind after a disturbance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

HuffPost

16%

Lifestyle

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Sports

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pull myself together" is a very common and grammatically correct reflexive idiom used to describe the act of regaining emotional or mental control. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is widely accepted and frequently found in News & Media, HuffPost and Lifestyle contexts. The phrase has a neutral register, making it suitable for various situations, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or scientific writing. The phrase is used to convey resilience, self-regulation and the process of restoring one's composure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regain my composure

Focuses specifically on regaining emotional balance and calmness.

collect myself

Emphasizes gathering one's thoughts and emotions after being scattered.

get it together

More colloquial; implies organizing oneself or one's affairs.

compose myself

Highlights the act of making oneself calm, tranquil, and serene.

recover my equilibrium

Suggests restoring balance, both mentally and emotionally.

steady myself

Focuses on physical and emotional stabilization.

get a grip

An idiomatic expression indicating a need to control one's emotions.

snap out of it

Suggests a sudden change from a negative state to a more positive one.

get back on track

Implies returning to a normal or planned course of action.

bounce back

Highlights resilience and the ability to recover quickly from a setback.

FAQs

How can I use "pull myself together" in a sentence?

You can use "pull myself together" to describe regaining composure after a shock or setback. For example, "After hearing the news, I needed a moment to "regain my composure" and "pull myself together" before facing the crowd".

What's a more formal way to say "pull myself together"?

In formal settings, consider using phrases like "compose myself", "recover my equilibrium", or "regain my composure". These alternatives convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "pull myself together"?

Yes, "pull myself together" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's an idiomatic expression that is widely accepted.

What's the difference between "pull myself together" and "get it together"?

"Pull myself together" often implies recovering from a specific moment of distress or shock, while "get it together" suggests a broader need to organize one's life or affairs. While similar, the former is more immediate and reactive, and the latter refers to a long-term goal.